Weight is only part of the equation when it comes to choosing a sleeping pad for lightweight backpacking. You could choose to use one of the lightest sleeping pad around like Gossamer Gear's Nightlight Sleeping Pad at only 3.5 ounces but if you can't get a good night's sleep on a 3/4" pad, the weight saving is defeating its purpose. You have to remember that the reason you're going lightweight in the first place is for comfort so only choose a foam pad if you can sleep well on it.

Deciding how comfortable a camping pad is by just looking at the specs can be very difficult. There are many things that affects the comfort level you experience when you sleep on a camping mat. Your sleeping style is only one of them.

The most popular sleeping pads for lightweight backpackers are not always the lightest or even the most comfortable. It's a balance between comfort, weight and insulation and depends on the time of year and the climate as well. If you're a lightweight backpacker you'd want the lightest pad that can give you a good night's sleep and this depends on the individual.

Inflatable pads are some of the most comfortable camping sleeping pads. They're heavier than closed cell foam pads but a good night's sleep is always worth the extra weight. The problem with this kind of sleeping pad is that they're prone to leaks and punctures. To prevent from getting punctures you need to be sure that the area is clear of sharp objects. Using a durable ground sheet helps protect the inflatable pad but always bring along repair kit just in case.

Based on the number of reviews and opinions from the Backpacking Light community, inflatables are more popular than foam pads even though foam pads are far lighter in general.

One of the most popular inflatable mattress is the Exped Downmat 7. It's 3 inches thick and weighs 24 ounces. The special stuff sack, which is also the pump, is about 8 ounces.

When it was first launched, there was nothing like it on the market. Often used as a winter pad thanks to the high loft 700-fill goose down which provides better protection from the cold ground than other camping mats with similar weight.

Since the Downmat 7 is not a self inflating pad, inflating it can be a hassle especially when you use the stuff sack as a pump. The new version of the Exped Downmat, the Downmat 9, uses a built-in pump for inflation and there's some significant improvement in the design.

This is another backpacking air mattress that's popular with light backpackers with 2.5 inches of pleasure for tired bones. It weighs 23 ounces which is lighter than the Exped. Even though it is not the lightest camping mat around but it is so comfortable that some even claim that they sleep even better than in their own beds.

Unlike the Exped, there's no pump to inflate the pad and it takes about 20 puffs to fully inflate it. Having to blow up the pad in cold weather warms up your body to better withstand the cold. 

As with all inflatables, there's a risk of it getting punctured but if you're careful with the Air Core Pad by making sure that you don't use it with any sharp objects underneath you'll reduce this risk. The Air Core Pad has served many for many years without the need for repairs.

Therm-a-Rest was the pioneer of the self-inflating pad and because of their reputation it's not a surprise that their Prolite series is very popular. Formerly known as ProLite 4, the Prolite Plus is warmer yet doesn't weigh much more.

Even though Prolite Plus has a better insulation than ProLite 3, it weighs a bit more as well. The ProLite 3 won the "Best in Breed" award from Overland Journal and was picked as "the best gear available today" by Alpinist Magazine Mountain Standards in 2005. In 2007, ProLite Plus won the highest 5-star "nearly perfect" Award from Alpinist Magazine Mountain Standards.

This pad is no doubt very comfortable but some have reported that they lose a little bit of inflation after a few hours of use when there is a significant drop in temperature.

People who like to use foam pads as a camping sleeping pad are more concerned about weight than comfort. Foam pads are great insulators from the cold and are very light but they're not as comfortable as inflatable pads and they can be bulky as well. Another great thing about foam pads is that you don't have to worry about leaks.

The Nightlight is one of the lightest sleeping pads around and quite comfortable for some people. It's not a full length pad and many use it together with a ground sheet like Gossamer Gear's Thinlight. The problem with the Nightlight is that they're quite bulky.

There's also a tendency for the pad to compress the more you use it which makes it less effective both as a cushion and an insulator. Fortunately the Nightlight is quite cheap so you replace it as it flattens out.

Formerly known as the Z-Rest, the Z-Lite is one of the most compact closed-cell pad ever made thanks to the accordion style design. Not only is the Z-Lite easy to pack, the egg-crate pattern adds warmth and comfort and the dual-density foam provides cushioning at the top and durability at the bottom.

Don't expect it to be as comfortable as an inflatable pad but it is surely more comfortable  than sleeping on cold hard ground. However, there may be problems with condensation if you use it in winter. Not recommended for use in cold weather.

While the Z-Lite was Therm-A-Rest's most compact closed cell pad, the Ridge Rest was their thickest and warmest. It's more comfortable and durable and insulates better than Gossamer Gear's Nightlight Torso but it's twice as heavy.

The Ridge Rest was given the "People's Choice" award from Spadout.com in 2009 based on the amount of outstanding reviews by the most respected contributors to the site.